How to use choose a portable battery jump starter?
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FigureItOut
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See if any of the Clore brands are available where you are. The most popular brand under the Clore company is Jump & Carry, usually abbreviated to JNC. Their most popular model is the JNC660, it's a real workhorse and can be found in most professional shops. It can usually be had here in the States for around $120USD. There's simply not another major manufacturer of jump boxes out there that's really taken seriously.
Of course the lithium-ion jumpers are making headway and have their advantages, mostly size and weight. I don't know a lot about them, and don't fully believe in them just yet, especially in cold weather. Noco brand seems to be decent quality and are popular, but for a little more money the Anti-Gravity Batteries brand seems to be the front-runner in quality and real world output.
Of course the lithium-ion jumpers are making headway and have their advantages, mostly size and weight. I don't know a lot about them, and don't fully believe in them just yet, especially in cold weather. Noco brand seems to be decent quality and are popular, but for a little more money the Anti-Gravity Batteries brand seems to be the front-runner in quality and real world output.
Corndoggeh
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I use a Walmart brand li-ion jump booster. Used it a few times when it was just above freezing and worked okay on a v6 4l engine. Follow instructions exactly and get one that's rated a bit bigger than your engine since usually the first jump never works for me, second attempt always worked though and the battery is rated for my engine size.
bushmechanic
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I have a Noco Genius unit. It's not the best, but it's well-made and charges via USB. It also works as advertised, but I wish the controls were less alien pictographs and more descriptive text. Picked mine up at Batteries Plus because I needed something that day; not because I was particularly interested in the manufacturer.
If I were to sit down and make a thorough decision before the purchase, though, I'd probably be looking hard at the Antigravity Micro Start.
If I were to sit down and make a thorough decision before the purchase, though, I'd probably be looking hard at the Antigravity Micro Start.
kctyphoon
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If you are referring to the small lithium jump packs, instead of the older style, big jump box - one of the best / better names you can buy is " Antigravity ".. just search "Antigravity jump pack" on Amazon..
Davediesel
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The MICRO-START XP-10 Portable Power Supply Jump-Starter gets good reviews. A little pricey but the product claims to start diesel & gas engines as well as power other electronic devices. I think I might give it a try.
We have a Noco Genius at work.
In a shop environment we kill jump boxes quick if they aren't good ones.
The Noco has been working for about 6 months now and has been abused a fair amount, dropped pretty good at least once as I see the case is tweaked. Its never charged properly, and the override gets used way too often.
It also gets left on vehicles while turned on, sometimes with them running for way way longer than the 15 seconds or so recommended in the manual.
It has also been used to pull in vehicles without batteries at all - not supposed to do that either.
Price was ok at around $150.
Pretty sure it would last a diy person for years, especially if they took care of it.
Only a couple of negatives, it takes a long time to charge - no fast charge, and the cables could be a little longer.
WWheeler
Well-known member
I bought the 3-1 portable power pack jump starter from Harbor Freight when it was on sale for ~$25
It did work one time to start the mower. Never worked again after that.
It did work one time to start the mower. Never worked again after that.
kctyphoon
Banned
Harbor freight has that new Lithium Iron jump pack (yes IRON) that's sold under the Viking name I think. So far people have positive things to say about it, but you are approaching the cost of a well known brand name depending on what size you actually need.
bushmechanic
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It's not my imagination, then.
I figured it was an upstart private label, and didn't really expect much out of it. Aside from the hieroglyphs and faith required to use something that ought to have a simple bank of power and selector switches, it seems to do the job.
Fits right in one of those ten dollar gray, zippered tool bags from Lowes, with room for the cables, clamps, and even just enough for a pocket tool set and a few odds and ends.
You end up with what amounts to a perfect "reliability kit" for a vehicle used around town that's already covered by the 172.9 free roadside assistance plans everyone has nowadays; or in my case just a fascinating little box that makes cars go.
I just don't understand what's so hard about a power switch and a proper function selector. Things have become so simplified that you have to re-learn how to use them.
WWheeler
Well-known member
lol, After my experience with their Centech model if Harbor Freight started giving away jump packs (of any brand or sort) for free I'd still rather opt for the tape measure or magnetic parts dish instead. Seriously.
It worked one time to start the mower, and a week later it wouldn't hold enough of a charge to turn it over. Only reason I haven't tossed this thing already is we don't have any hazardous waste disposal options anywhere near where I live. Nor any recycling options either. Everything must go either to the landfill or in a burn pile and I'm not comfortable disposing of this either way.
anndel
Well-known member
I have the JNC 660 in the shop and a NOCO GB70 and GB40 in each of our vehicles. It works great but the thing I dislike is the charging system - USB or cigarette lighter. I rewired the cigarette lighter cable to connect to my 12 VDC 30 A power supply and it seems to work.
Cope
Well-known member
I was just given mine as a gift, and haven't tried it out yet.
https://www.batteriesplus.com/charger/car-and-truck/noco/nocgb40
https://www.batteriesplus.com/charger/car-and-truck/noco/nocgb40
stingry
Well-known member
Depends on your needs. If you just want an emergency jump start to carry around in your car, the Li-ion ones work great. Small, easy to pack and can be used to charge electronic devices. But, if you want a unit to use on a continuous basis for starting vehicles under less than ideal conditions ie. extreme cold, etc., get a regular battery booster. IMHO
Cheers
Steve
In your place, they are around $120USD? As far as I knoe we here they may around $80, cheaper price.
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Sorry to hear it.
I bought the 3-1 portable power pack jump starter from Harbor Freight when it was on sale for ~$25
It did work one time to start the mower. Never worked again after that.
I would 2nd this
I have the XP-10 version
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQ5Z5F2/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Consumer reports tested 10 of them
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/jump-starters/buying-guide
The Antigravity Batteries XP-10 was clearly the best of the bunch, with two USB ports, several laptop connection options, and best-in-test device charging capacity.
It comes in a zippered binder with a bunch of accessories - you can charge just about any cell phone or tablet with it
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I had to take a look at the reviews to see what you were talking about...
To be fair, if you had read the reviews showing the split batteries, then you would have also realized that these were 'knockoffs' being sold by a third party (funny that you left that part out)
"seller SHUN TECH is selling fake antigravity battery XP-10"
Here is an example that someone posted. The back of the knockoff is glossy while the real AntiGravity battery isn't
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MattPersman
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Calvan allstart boost max 560 or matco equivalent versapower pro
Puts the JNC 660 to shame
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Puts the JNC 660 to shame
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Also the reason I didn't get an xp-10 amazon had the best price, but when I called anti grav they said they did not warranty any from amazon because they could be a fake. So seeing that I went with the noco gb150 and also the 150 was the largest I could find and I wanted that for my duramax. Seeing how they couldn't even recommend a seller on ebay that was authorized I was done with them. I think the noco seems like it is built better and I have one of their chargers as well and like it.
Rewind97
Well-known member
I had to use my jump pack to crank my motorcycle this weekend. The clamps were almost to big to use...........do they make smaller clamps?
I called Anti Gravity (xp-10) yesterday. Phone was answered in less than 5 rings by a real person. We talked about the fake/knock off batteries and he told me that they do sell to Amazon and their products are warrantied if you buy from them. (They have started putting a sticker with a serial number on the back of the batteries to help). If you actually go to their website you will probably get a promo code - I think it was 'newmember' which will get you 12% off your first order which the price is then pretty close to Amazon's if your concerned about buying from Amazon
https://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/
bczygan
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JNC660
We have 2.
We have 2.
bigredjeepone
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I have a JNC 770R and I love it.
ambenz
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I tend not to over think purchases I will only use in a blue moon.
Go buy a expensive $100 Ion jump starter and forget to keep it charged...it is just as useless and the $40 one you bought.
Or, it is in a different car that isn't where you are when you need it!
I found B&D Power to Go at Menards for less than $40.
It was such a good price, every car I own has one in the trunk.
Just remember to check the charge once a month as a preventative maintenance procedure while checking tire pressure.
Go buy a expensive $100 Ion jump starter and forget to keep it charged...it is just as useless and the $40 one you bought.
Or, it is in a different car that isn't where you are when you need it!
I found B&D Power to Go at Menards for less than $40.
It was such a good price, every car I own has one in the trunk.
Just remember to check the charge once a month as a preventative maintenance procedure while checking tire pressure.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Probably the "best bang for the buck" !
Someguy like flying also suggest me a Tattu Jump Starter, which is a portable one.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Li-Ion batteries hold a charge for a long time, much longer than NiCad, NiMH or even lead acid. They do not do well, in very cold temps.
I have many of the lithium jump starter. Now I'm back to using the JNC770. I like the fact that I can replace the battery rather cheap. Can't really do that with the lithium packs without blotching it up. I have a NOCO GB30 that worked okay at first but now struggles to jump start anything larger than 2.5L unless the car just happens to not crank due to lights being left on. If the battery is dead due to age or severe voltage drop, the NOCO is useless. I like my Schumacher SL1 jumper more. It uses lithium iron phosphate cells which I personally favor over other lithium chemistry.